for IB. 18 AP courses are offered in: English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics, World History, European History, American History, American Government and Politics/Economics, History of Art, Psychology, Statistics, Calculus, French, German, and Spanish. 15 IB courses are offered as: English III SL, English IV HL, Biology HL, Physics SL, History of the Americas HL, Math Studies SL, Mathematics SL, Mathematics HL, French SL, German SL, Spanish ScL, Spanish HL, Psychology SL, and Visual Arts SL. Capistrano Valley is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Fine arts department The Capistrano Valley Marching Band, known throughout Southern California as the Black and Gold Brigade, participates in competitive field tournaments, parades and home football games. The ensemble consists of woodwind, brass, colorguard, pit and drumline. The Black and Gold Brigade currently competes in the SCJA (Southern California Judges Association) 3A division and has qualified for all SCJA championships since 2002. The marching band earned first place in the 2A division in 2002. It also won first place in the 1A division in 2006 for colorguard, band, visual, and percussion categories. The Black and Gold Brigade has back to back SCJA state championships, taking 2009 State Champs, as well as Most Outstanding Solosit (Jeremy Burciaga, Trumpet), High Music, and High Overall. The Black and Gold Brigade also has taken 2010 State Champs, with High (Best) Music, High (Best) Visual, High (Best) General (Overall Effect), and High (Best) Percussion. The winter guard team placed first in division AA at the Winter Guard Association of Southern California contest at Tesoro High School in February 2007. In the championships, the team placed sixth in "Intermediate Yellow A" at CVHS in April 2007. On October 13, 2007, the Black and Gold Brigade came in first place for Auxiliary, Music, and Drumline categories at the prestigious Poway Marching Band Invitational in Division 2A. On October 11, 2008, the Black and Gold Brigade came in first place for Percussion, Visual, and Drum Major categories at the Fullerton High School Marching Band Competition. Also during the event, they won 1st place in their division This year, Capistrano Valley High School has two wind bands and three string orchestras. The top band and top orchestra also double as an IB music class, exposing the students to ethnomusicology and music theory. There is also a blog for CVHS music and all